Security Agents Intensify Search For 9 Abducted Kaduna Schoolchildren

Security agencies have launched operations to rescue the nine abducted schoolchildren who were intercepted in a moving vehicle by the suspected bandits in Kachia local government area of Kaduna State last Sunday.

Suspected terrorists had attacked a vehicle conveying the schoolchildren from Akwando village to Kachia, the headquarters of Kachia local government area, Kaduna State, abducting nine passengers and leaving one girl dead during the incident.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday, a top security officer who pleaded anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said counter terrorism experts were deployed and given marching orders to rescue the victims.

According to the security source, “True, the incident happened last Sunday. Your story was true. Now is beyond confirmation; it is action. Our team of security experts, drawn from security agencies, was deployed to rescue the abducted children. We are working around the clock for their release”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond when contacted about the incident.

It will be recalled that the Public Relations Officer of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), Manasseh Samuel, had told LEADERSHIP that the attack occurred last Sunday, about 9 am, less than 10 minutes after the vehicle departed Akwando for Kachia, where the children were expected to resume school following the reopening of schools.

He said about 25 passengers, including the driver, were travelling in an open vehicle when the attackers blocked the road about three kilometres from Akwando village.

According to him, the attackers opened fire, forcing the children to flee in different directions.

He added that 15 passengers escaped by jumping from the vehicle and trekking through the bush for several hours before reaching safety in neighbouring communities.

Samuel had also said a young girl, Purity Babangida, died during the chaos while attempting to escape.

Also, former media adviser to late Kaduna state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, had confirmed the attack and said the vehicle was ambushed shortly after leaving Akwando village.